GIMME GIMME DISCO
This is a 18+ event with standing room only17 and under admitted with a parent or guardian Calling all Dancing Queens! Here we go again! If you can’t get enough ABBA then do we have a dance party for you. We are a DJ based dance party playing all your favorite ABBA hits, plus plenty of other disco hits from the 70s & 80’s like The Bee Gees, Donna Summer, & Cher (DISCO ATTIRE ENCOURAGED). So honey honey, take-a-chance and you’ll be dancing all night long. Grab tickets, bring your friends, and have the best night of your life!
Moon Walker wsg Jake Simmons and The Little Ghosts
18+ Standing Room Only Show 17 and under admitted with a parent or guardian Harry Springer may compose, produce and perform all of Moon Walker’s music in his bedroom, but the electrifying and uniquely eclectic sound undeniably feels more fitting for a stadium. When Springer formed Moon Walker at the height of the Covid-19 Pandemic, he was merely looking for a way to pass time and make some extra money selling songs to music libraries. “I sold some, and it was going fine, but then I wrote some songs, and I was like, ‘I really don’t want to give these ones away.” Those songs that Springer just couldn’t part with ended up becoming his critically acclaimed debut record “Truth to Power”. Thanks to sudden viral success on Tik Tok and praise from the likes of The Darkness’s Justin Hawkins, the 7-track album quickly established Moon Walker as one of rock’s most promising acts. Less than a year later, Springer is back with his sophomore effort “The Attack of Mirrors”.
Thomas Dolby – The Iconic 80’s: My Personal Recollections
18+ Standing Room Only Show | 17 and under admitted with a parent or guardian Thomas Dolby has had a multifaceted career, shifting from a pop music icon to a technology innovator and then to an academic. He is best known for his 1980s hits like “She Blinded Me with Science”. In the 1990s, he founded the company Beatnik, which developed polyphonic ringtone technology for mobile phones. More recently, he has become a professor at Johns Hopkins University’s Peabody Institute.
Shakespearean, Not Stirred
18+ Standing Room Only Show | Ages 17 & under admitted with a parent or guardian “Tipsy actors. Drinking games. Audience participation. A raffle. General hijinks. And somewhere in the mix… a Shakespeare play. Absolutely no fun will be had.” 🎭🍻 Seating & Ticket Options: Loft Standing: Standing room only at the back of the loft (Not ADA accessible). Loft Seated: Table seating at the front of the loft (Not ADA accessible). Main Floor Seated: Table seating on the main floor. VIP: Take your seat on stage with the actors!
Sounds of the Zoo Kickoff Party feat. The Frogs & Toads, Overdrive Orchestra, Basic Comfort
This is an 18+ free event 17 and under with guardian The Frogs and Toads take elements from garage, grunge, surf, country western, and punk to form a unique alternative sound with a touch of familiarity. A burst of fun energy right out of Kalamazoo! Award-winning progedelic hard rock quintet Overdrive Orchestra is an orchestration of sound, soul, and energy. Their vibe has been described as gritty, natural and hypnotic. Frontman Chris Cranick’s lyrical themes touch on peace, love, spirituality, and enlightenment while also expressing communal frustrations with politics, taboos, and the human condition. The band prides itself on their intuitive song writing sensibility and dynamic sonic textures. Basic Comfort is Kalamazoo, Michigan’s Alternative Pop band. With the release of their latest self-produced sophomore album, Dimensions, Basic Comfort has explored and distilled the many dimensions of connection to the self and others. While their lyrics are sure to leave you in a state of contemplation, touching on feelings of love, letting go, and the confusion of internal needs, the rhythms and melodies will simultaneously leave you dancing and singing along for days. The group takes inspiration from artists like Parcels, Gil Scott Heron, Daft Punk, and Men I Trust.
STARFARM
This is an 18+ event with standing room only17 and under admitted with a parent or guardian Do you want your MTV of old? Are you spending your Saturday nights watching VH1 count down your favorite ‘80s videos? Then Starfarm is what you need! Starfarm brings the most “Totally Awesome” collection of ‘80s songs that you can dream of. Every song played instantly captures that nostalgic feeling, sending you back to the decade of pegged pants, mullets and Aqua Net. From the very first chord of the night you will be dancing and pumping your fist in the air, singing along to the much-loved songs of yesterday. Always ready to break a sweat, Starfarm comes complete with cardboard, old-skool Adidas tracksuits, legwarmers and aviator sunglasses, plus a state-of-the-art sound system and light show.
Lower Leisure Class wsgs. Wowza In Kalamazoo
This is a standing room only show 18+ or 17 under with a parent or guardian With whole-hearted soul and voice, Kalamazoo’s Lower Leisure Class write, release, and perform energized earworms grounded in rock ‘n’ roll while sailing through the sonic stratosphere. The sextet’s acclaimed debut LP, Stories from the Lower Leisure Class, supplies “an unmistakable, identifiable restless sound” to listeners who’ll keep “spinning this record… over and over again”, according to Local Spins’ Ryan Boldrey. “To see this group shape their music around those stories is where things take off,”, writes Derek Phillips at Glorious Noise. “It’s new, but steeped in nostalgia and references any good midwesterner will recognize.” Their stage skills burnished to a fine shine as members of powerhouse Michigan bands including King Tammy, the Sinatras, and the Sleestacks – all of whose Leppotone recordings command a cult following to this day – the LLC move audiences to dance, sing along, activate, and engage. Wowza in Kalamazoo began as a remote recording collaboration between Ike Turner and Zach Hench (along with the brilliant Sarah Beauchamp), but quickly metastasized into a full-tilt rock band comprising Franki Hand (Petrillo), Chafe Hensley (OUT, Minutes, Hornet), Brad Miller (Brown Company, Dr. Xeron & The Moogulators), Jimbo Bruce (via Ferrata) and the above-mentioned Turner (OUT, Minutes, New Standards Men). As the group expanded so did their approach to writing songs, including more emphasis placed on improvisation and capturing work as it happens vs. grinding songs into dust. Looking to go FURTHER, Wowza’s sound is akin to that of space Needle, Can, and Träden.
Kalamazoo Academy Of Rock
This is an all-ages event Kalamazoo Academy of Rock is back at Bell’s! These youth bands have been wow-ing audiences for years – come on down for a show like no other! For more information about KAR visit www.kzoorock.com
Kalamazoo Academy Of Rock
This is an all-ages event Kalamazoo Academy of Rock is back at Bell’s! These youth bands have been wow-ing audiences for years – come on down for a show like no other! For more information about KAR visit www.kzoorock.com
Charlie Hunter Trio
This is a partially seated show 18+ or 17 under with a parent or guardian LINEUP: Hybrid Guitar: Charlie Hunter / Drums: Corey Fonville / Saxophone: Nate Clark Charlie Hunter is a guitarist, producer, and composer celebrated for his innovative approach to the instrument. He gained widespread recognition for his pioneering technique on an eight-string guitar, which he custom-designed to simultaneously play bass lines, melodies, and chords. Currently, he performs on 6- and 7-string guitars built by Hybrid Guitars Co., a company he co-founded in 2015 with luthiers Clay Conner and Wes Lambe to create fanned-fret instruments tailored to his specifications. Hunter’s eclectic style seamlessly blends elements of jazz, funk, blues, and rock, creating a distinct sound that has captivated audiences worldwide. His mastery of rhythm, tone, and improvisation has earned him critical acclaim and a devoted following. Over the course of his thirty five year career, he has released numerous albums and collaborated with a diverse array of artists, from jazz legends to contemporary innovators. A defining force in contemporary jazz, funk, and blues, Hunter has established himself as a versatile collaborator, producer and bandleader. His work with SuperBlue, alongside vocalist Kurt Elling, has received critical praise for its electrifying fusion of jazz, funk, and groove-driven improvisation. In recent years, Hunter has been touring extensively, with notable appearances at major international festivals, venues and performing arts centers. In 2024, he continued to work with artists including Victoria Victoria, Butcher Brown, Jubu Smith & Calvin Napper, Sam Fribush, Maritzaida, and Candice Ivory. Hunter appeared on Tiny Desk alongside Carrtoons, Kiefer, and Nate Smith, further showcasing his ability to fuse genres and push musical boundaries. Beyond performing, Hunter is also deeply involved in music production and education. During the 2019 pandemic, he launched Wheelhouse Beats, a revolutionary metronome app featuring some of today’s top drummers. He also founded SideHustle Records, a label and artist development house dedicated to nurturing emerging talent and ensuring artists retain control over their creative output. Since 2022, Hunter has immersed himself in the music of Arthur “Blind” Blake, sharing his discoveries and interpretations on his Patreon page. With an ever-evolving sound and a relentless drive to explore new musical territories, Charlie Hunter remains one of the most forward-thinking and influential guitarists of his generation.
